Joey and Jackie Proffitt of Hoover, Ala., settle in for a hayride with 4-year-old daughter Mary Rose and 8-month-old Ruby at the Hoover Hayride and Family Night at Veterans Park off Valleydale Road on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Jon Anderson/janderson@al.com)

HOOVER, Alabama - An estimated 8,000 people showed up at Veterans Park in Hoover tonight for the fourth annual Hoover Hayride and Family Night.

Dozens of businesses, organizations and political candidates passed out candy and other treats to costumed children in the vendor tents set up on the grassy area of the park along Valleydale Road in north Shelby County.

There were princesses, witches, Power Rangers, clowns, doctors, cowgirls and ninjas of all sizes traipsing around the park in the chilly weather.

In addition to the tractor-pulled hayrides and vendor booths, the event offered a magician, balloon artists and face painting for the first time this year.

Chandler Kutchak, 10, and Zander Watson, 3, grab some suckers from the Regions Bank table at the fourth annual Hoover Hayride and Family Night At Veterans Park off Valleydale Road in Hoover, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Jon Anderson/janderson@al.com)

Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey estimated the crowd at about 8,000, which is about 2,000 more than last year.

The event went from 5 to 8 p.m., and people started showing up at 4:30, said Erin Colbaugh, the events coordinator for the city of Hoover.

"We love it. We're having a great time," said Larry Moore, who was there with his 6-year-old daughter Ilysia and 3-year-old son, Silas. "They loved the magic show. They couldn't stop laughing at that."

Michael and Debra Weld of Vestavia Hills said their family has come to the hayride event every year it has been held. "It's an opportunity for the kids to get out - lots of candy," Debra Weld said. "We try to find the funnest activities to bring the kids out to."

Amanda Martin brought her 2-year-old, John David Martin, all the way from Tuscaloosa County. They heard about the event from a news report a couple of days ago and decided to give it a try. "It's fun," she said. "It's really nice, and lots of candy."

Nicole Pittman, 11, of Vestavia Hills, gets a butterfly painted on her face by Shanda Phillips of Starshine Faces at the fourth annual Hoover Hayride and Family Night at Veterans Park off Valleydale Road in Hoover, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Jon Anderson/janderson@al.com)